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MIAA expects passenger volume to grow by up to 30%

Passengers are seen at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, July 25, 2024. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

THE Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) expects passenger volume to grow by up to 30% for this year,  driven by expected travel demand.

“Give and take about 20-30% growth,” MIAA General Manager Eric Jose C. Ines told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Monday.

In 2024, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport posted a passenger volume of 50.26 million 2024, 10.9% higher than the 2023 level and 4.9% higher than the 47.90 million posted in the last full pre-pandemic year of 2019.

Domestic passenger traffic was 26.89 million, up 8.1%. International passenger traffic rose 14.4% to 23.37 million.

Aircraft movements — the sum of takeoffs and landings — amounted to 293,427 last year, up 8.3%.

MIAA is also expecting to see passenger growth during the Holy Week, Mr. Ines said, noting that it logged four million passengers for the two months to February of the year. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Admin did not abandon OVP — Palace

VICE-PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO — FACEBOOK.COM/MAYORINDAYSARADUTERTEOFFICIAL

THE PRESIDENTIAL Communications Office (PCO) on Monday countered Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s claim that the Marcos administration has abandoned her office, arguing the agency was given opportunities to justify its request for more funding this year.

This comes after the Vice President, who was impeached by the House of Representatives and faces an impeachment trial before the Senate, accused the government of abandoning her office at an event for overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong.

“The government did not abandon Office of the Vice-President,” PCO Undersecretary Claire A. Castro told a news briefing.

“There was no obstruction in providing the appropriate budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP), if she could justify it.”

Lawmakers earlier cut the OVP budget this year to about P733 million from the P2.06 billion under the National Expenditure Program.

The House of Representatives impeached Ms. Duterte before it went on a four-month break on Feb. 5, alleging misuse of secret funds, unexplained wealth, acts of destabilization, and plotting the assassination of the President, the First Lady and the Speaker.

The Impeachment complaint was filed and signed by more than 200 congressmen, more than the one-third legal requirement before it could be sent to the Senate, which will try her as an impeachment court. Under the 1987 Constitution, several congressmen will be serving as impeachment prosecutors. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

LPG regulation act compliance urged

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Energy (DoE) is urging liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry players to comply with the LPG Industry Regulation Act (LIRA) for public safety and consumer protection as there were participants who failed to follow.

“As of date, there have been a number of LPG industry participants that have been administratively charged and imposed fines and penalties for violation of the LIRA,” the DoE said in a statement on Monday.

Republic Act No. 11592, LIRA, regulates the LPG industry to ensure compliance with the standards for health, safety and quality applicable to the activities related to LPG, which is widely used for cooking, heating, and vehicles.

These activities include the importation, refining, storage, export, refilling, transportation, distribution, and marketing of LPG, and the importation, manufacture, requalification, repair, exchange, improvement, and scrapping of LPG pressure vessels, LPG seals, and other ancillary equipment.

The law provides substantial administrative and criminal penalties, including fines of up to P100,000 for every non-compliant item, material or equipment, such as LPG seal or pressure vessel. Non-compliant players could also face business closure and permanent disqualification, and imprisonment of up to 12 years.

“These penalties are designed to protect consumers, prevent hazardous incidents, and maintain the integrity of the LPG industry sector,” Energy Undersecretary Alessandro O. Sales said.

“By enforcing strict safety measures, we ensure that only legally sourced and properly handled LPG products reach the market, underscoring the government’s unwavering commitment to public safety and product quality,” he added.

As of December 2024, there are 6,952 registered LPG players, according to DoE. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Comelec moves local absentee voting deadline

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) postponed the deadline of local absentee voting (LAV) to March 17 ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.

In a resolution sent to reporters by Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia, the poll body moved the deadline of receiving LAV applications to March 17 from March 10.

The verification of registration of applicants for LAV was moved to April 11 from April 8, while the transmittal of list of qualified local absentee voters, local absentee ballots, and other election forms and supplies was postponed to April 27 from April 21.

The 2025 Philippine midterm elections on May 12 will see about 68 million Filipinos voting to elect over 18,000 officials, including 12 senators, 254 district representatives, 63 party-list representatives, and local government positions. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Penalties sought vs BI personnel in Korean fugitive escape

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

A SENATOR called on the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to impose strict penalties on personnel involved in the escape of South Korean fugitives.

“Commissioner (Joel Anthony M.) Viado should ensure that BI officials involved in this shameful incident be imposed the strictest penalties, including criminal liability under Article 223 of the Revised Penal Code,” Senator Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel said in a statement on Monday.

She added that CCTV footage showed that BI officials were involved in the escape of the fugitive from custody.

“CCTV confirmed: the Korean fugitive didn’t just escape from the Bureau of Immigration, he was deliberately let go,” she said in Filipino.

On Sunday, BI authorities rearrested two Korean fugitives wanted for estafa and fraud in South Korea after their escape on March 4.

Mr. Viado, in a media briefing on Sunday, said that the personnel involved in assisting the escape of the two South Koreans have been terminated.

“This is symptomatic of the failures and offenses of the BI in handling erring foreign nationals. It seems that the culture of corruption in the agency will not go away,” Ms. Hontiveros added.

The senator added that she will seek a subpoena on the CCTV footage and pursue the case in the next subcommittee hearing. — Adrian H. Halili

Digital literacy bill passage pushed

PIXABAY

THE Commission on Human Rights called for immediate action on Senate Bill No. 2934, highlighting the growing necessity of equipping students with digital safety skills.

“A child’s right to safety should not be confined to the physical world — it must extend to the digital landscape where they learn, interact, and grow,” it said in a statement on Monday.

It also underscored the urgency of enacting stronger safeguards as children increasingly engage in digital platforms for education and social interaction.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child mandates that governments ensure access to safe and informative online spaces while protecting minors from digital harm.

The legislation seeks to equip students with digital literacy skills and bolster protections against online threats, aligning with global child welfare standards.

It builds on Republic Act No. 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act.

It also aligns with a 2017 United Nations Children’s Fund study that found Filipino children are among the most vulnerable to online risks, with eight in ten exposed to cyberbullying or online exploitation.

If passed, the legislation would institutionalize a nationwide framework for internet safety education, empowering young Filipinos with the tools to navigate online spaces responsibly. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Bill sets up legal framework for certifying religious groups

TPB/ANGEL ERAN

A BILL seeking to create a framework for the certification of Philippine religious groups as legitimate groups was filed at the House of Representatives last week.

House Bill (HB) No. 11477 seeks to mandate sects to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Philippine Statistics Agency, putting in place minimum validation requirements before being recognized by the government as a legitimate religious group.

“It is therefore proposed under this act that a system for the recognition and certification of religious organizations or groups be established in order to protect the public from unscrupulous individuals who prey on unsuspecting believers,” Party-list Rep. Ron P. Salo said in the measure, which was filed on March 6.

“The lack of regulation has led to the exploitation of religious institutions, where unscrupulous individuals have taken advantage of people’s trust and generosity under the guise of religious leadership,” he said in a statement.

The Southeast Asian nation adheres to the principle of separation of church and state, which is enshrined in its 1987 Constitution. Religious groups are generally exempt from taxes in the Philippines.

“Long-established” religions exempt from the proposed law include the Roman Catholic Church, Islam, Seventh-Day Adventist, Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Iglesia ni Cristo, among others.

About 80% of the country are Catholic, followed by Muslims (6.4%) and home-grown church Iglesia ni Cristo (2.6%), according to 2020 government data.

“Churches, sects, religious groups, or organizations, in order to obtain legal personality for purposes of tax exemption, property transactions, and marriage solemnization authority, shall comply with the prescribed procedure for the registration of non-stock and non-profit organizations with the Securities and Exchange Commission,” the bill stated.

The bill mandates religious groups to have at least 12 legal-age members before being registered with the SEC, with each of them executing an affidavit containing when they became members. The religion should also provide a list of properties already owned and its by-laws. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

New BARMM chief gets support from local executives

@BANGSAMOROGOVT

COTABATO CITY — Local executives have expressed support for Abdulrauf A. Macacua, the newly appointed interim chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

According to radio reports on Monday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire A. Castro confirmed the appointment of Mr. Macacua, who was governor of Maguindanao del Norte, as the new chief minister of BARMM. He replaced Ahod B. Ebrahim, who was installed to the post in 2019.

Mr. Ebrahim is the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), while Mr. Macacua is the chief of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-MILF, which has groups in BARMM’s Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi provinces.

The front’s two compacts with the national government — the 2012 Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro — paved the way for the replacement in 2019 of the then 27-year Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a more administratively and politically-empowered BARMM.

“We congratulate Chief Minister Macacua for his appointment as BARMM chief minister. We also thank his predecessor, former Chief Minister Ebrahim for the services he had extended to our people and for all the projects of the BARMM government in our province during his tenure,” Basilan Gov. Hadjiman H. Salliman told reporters in Cotabato City on Monday.

Mayor Rhoderick H. Furigay of Lamitan City in Basilan said he and his constituent Muslim and Christian leaders will support the peace, security and development initiatives of Mr. Macacua just as they supported the administration of Mr. Ebrahim.

Meanwhile, some skeptics, including civil society organizations and peace-advocacy groups, have expressed concern over a possible adverse impact on the unity of MILF leaders of Mr. Macacua’s assumption as chief minister, replacing Mr. Ebrahim.

Mayor Marshall I. Sinsuat of Datu Blah Sinsuat, touted as the most peaceful town in Maguindanao del Norte, said he is certain that top leaders of the MILF have given Mr. Macacua their “imprimatur” to replace Ebrahim as BARMM chief minister.

“Their central committee acts like a collegial bloc. I’m convinced there was a consensus about that. We in Datu Blah Sinsuat recognize the new chief minister. We too shall support his administration to the best we can,” Mr. Sinsuat said.

Mr. Salliman, Mr. Sinsuat and Mr. Furigay, who is seeking reelection as mayor of Lamitan City unopposed, are members of the MILF’s regional United Bangsamoro Justice Party.

An influential leader not aligned with them politically, the reelectionist Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamimtal A. Adiong, Jr., had urged Mr. Macacua to adhere to the “moral governance principle” that the MILF bloc in the 80-seat BARMM parliament has overtly been espousing as their main principle in managing the regional government.

“We wish to see a strong regional bureaucracy under your leadership of the regional government,” Mr. Adiong said

Mr. Adiong said they want Mr. Macacua’s peace and security and community development initiatives done in the context of transparency and accountability and for the utmost benefit of all constituents regardless of their religious and cultural identities. — John Felix M. Unson

Cignal and Chery Tiggo gun for quarter slots vs ZUS, Farm Fresh

CIGNAL HD SPIKERS — FACEBOOK.COM/PREMIERVOLLEYBALLLEAGUE

Games on Tuesday
(PhilSports Arena)
4 p.m. – Farm Fresh vs Chery Tiggo
6:30 p.m. – ZUS vs Cignal

CIGNAL and Chery Tiggo shoot to take the last bus to the quarterfinals while ZUS Coffee and Farm Fresh look to avert it as they face off on Tuesday in a pair of crucial play-in matches in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

The Cignal HD Spikers and the Chery Tiggo Crossovers will gun for a play-in sweep and outright quarters entry as they clash with the ZUS Thunderbelles at 6:30 p.m. and the Farm Fresh Foxies at 4 p.m., respectively.

Cignal turned back Capital1, 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 25-15, while Chery Tiggo dumped Nxled, 25-22, 26-24, 25-12, on Thursday to move on the cusp of advancing to the best-of-three quarters.

If Cignal wins, it will battle No. 2 Petro Gazz while a Chery Tiggo triumph will forge a showdown with top-seeded and five-peat feat-seeking Creamline both on March 18 at the same Pasig venue.

Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos isn’t thinking that far though.

“Our sole focus is just for this game and nothing else,” said Mr. Delos Santos.

ZUS and Farm Fresh though will do everything they can to get the win that will bolster their chance of claiming the quarters berths themselves.

The Thunderbelles will play the Solar Spikers while the Foxies tangle with the Chameleons on Thursday for that golden chance of gatecrashing into the next phase. — Joey Villar

Gin Kings battle Castro-less Tropang Giga in PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals

BARANGAY GINEBRA GIN KINGS — FACEBOOK.COM/PBAOFFICIAL

ASKED how much Barangay Ginebra wants to win the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup crown against old tormentor TNT, star guard Scottie Thompson was emphatic in his response.

“Hungry for glory,” Mr. Thompson said when the Gin Kings and the Tropang Giga faced the press for the traditional pre-finals gab on Sunday in Quezon City.

“Of course, we are well-motivated coming to the series. Hopefully we will get it.”

Though they’re victorious in their two previous duels with Ginebra for the Governors’ Cup diadem, TNT insists its hunger for glory remains strong going to the best-of-seven championship that kicks off on Friday.

The protagonists sat on different ends of the table with the coveted trophy in the middle.

TNT was represented by coach Chot Reyes, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Oftana, RR Pogoy, Kim Aurin and Rey Nambatac. Present for Ginebra were coach Tim Cone, Scottie Thompson, Maverick Ahanmisi, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar and RJ Abarrientos. Justin Brownlee missed the presser as he’s getting treatment for asthma.

TNT governor and PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas, Ginebra counterpart and PBA Vice Chairman Alfrancis Chua and league commissioner Willie Marcial were also on hand and expressed excitement for the series.

Repeat or revenge will be the main theme here.

“We’re coming into this series with a lot more depth than we had in the last time we played them (Season 49 Governors’ Cup) and I think that’s going to be a big factor for us,” said Mr. Cone.

He was referring to the return of Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray from injury and the mid-season entry of Troy Rosario. Mr. Rosario, however, hasn’t joined practice yet, per Mr. Cone, as he’s undergoing rehab for the sprained ankle he sustained in Ginebra’s semifinal closeout of NorthPort.

With their rivals’ added ammo, TNT recognizes the need to dial up their games several notches. — Olmin Leyba

Thunder wallop Nuggets in showdown of West’s best

SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER scored 40 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to their seventh consecutive victory, a 127-103 rout over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

It was the first of back-to-back games in Oklahoma City for the teams that entered the day in the top two spots in the Western Conference. The loss dropped the Nuggets into third place, percentage points behind the Los Angeles Lakers.

The West-leading Thunder have won 16 of their last 18 games and snapped the Nuggets’ two-game winning streak.

With just more than two minutes remaining and the Nuggets’ chances for a comeback already hanging by a thread, Gilgeous-Alexander pulled up from the top of the key and drained a 3-pointer to stretch Oklahoma City’s lead to 18 and virtually put the game away.

The bucket also gave Gilgeous-Alexander his NBA-best 11th 40-point game of the season.

Nikola Jokic, coming off an historic performance (31 points, 21 rebounds and 22 assists) in Friday’s overtime win over Phoenix, came up just short of his 30th triple-double of the season.

Jokic, who made just TWO of 10 3-point attempts, finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, along with three blocks.

Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t much better from distance, going two of 11 on 3-pointers, but was 15 of 32 overall. He added eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

The Nuggets got off to a quick start, scoring the game’s first 10 points and leading by 11 just more than four minutes in.

But Oklahoma City quickly cut into the lead and eventually trimmed the deficit to one to close the first quarter.

In the third quarter, it was Denver’s turn to fall behind by double figures and battle back.

The Thunder led by 11 about midway through the quarter before the Nuggets cut the margin to three entering the fourth.

With Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench, Oklahoma City reeled off a 14-3 run early in the fourth to take control for good.

That stretch was fueled largely by Jalen Williams, who scored seven of his 26 points during that stretch. He also grabbed nine rebounds and dished out eight assists.

After beating Portland on Friday without any of its usual starters, all five returned for Oklahoma City. Chet Holmgren contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, while Isaiah Hartenstein had 10 points and 11 boards.

Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. had 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Christian Braun added 19 points and Jamal Murray scored 17. — Reuters

Swiatek, Rybakina serve up bagels en route to victories at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, California — Defending champion Iga Swiatek crushed Dayana Yastremska 6-0, 6-2 and 2023 champion Elena Rybakina powered past Britain’s Katie Boulter 6-0, 7-5 to reach the fourth round of Indian Wells on Sunday with displays of dominance.

Swiatek, seeded second, is aiming to become the first woman to win the tournament three times and the Polish player looked eager to do so in as little time on court as possible, reeling off 10 games in a row and needing just 65 minutes to see off her Ukrainian opponent.

“At the end I got a bit tired, it’s always hard to finish a match like that but I’m happy that I kept my intensity up in the last game to close it,” she said.

“I had control from the beginning so I’m happy with the performance for sure.”

It was Swiatek’s second bagel set of the tournament after she overwhelmed Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-0 in her first match.

The five-time major champion has not won a title since her triumph at Roland Garros in 2024, her longest drought since winning her first major title in 2020.

She served a one-month suspension in October for a failed drug test and has seen Aryna Sabalenka take her world number one ranking but said the California desert is an ideal setting to get back to winning ways.

“It’s amazing, I love coming here,” she said.

“I already have my routine so it feels like home. It’s for sure the place to be and a great place to play tennis.”

Swiatek will face 15th seed Karolina Muchova in the round of 16 after the Czech player beat her compatriot Katerina Siniakova in the afternoon.

After cruising through the first set, Rybakina fell behind 5-3 in the second before regrouping.

She stretched to hit a sensational defensive shot in a game where she broke back for 5-5 and broke again on match point to seal the win.

Rybakina, who missed last year’s tournament due to an illness, will play either ninth-seeded Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva or Dane Clara Tauson in the next round. 

Ukrainian Elina Svitolina upset 14th seed Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-4 and will face another American, fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the next round after she breezed past China’s Wang Xinyu 6-2, 6-1.

Svitolina’s countrywoman Marta Kostyuk beat American wildcard Caroline Dolehide 6-3, 6-3.

MEDVEDEV, TSITSIPAS ADVANCE
On the men’s side, Stefanos Tsitsipas showed off his impressive athleticism and defence, leaping for overheads and speeding around the court to beat Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-3.

“I’m approaching these matches with determination and willingness to just leave it all out there on the court,” Tsitsipas said.

“I want to get out there on the court and be a gladiator, and that’s how I approach every single match I get to play.”

The Greek eighth seed will face battle-tested Holger Rune after the Danish player dug deep to outlast Frenchman Ugo Humbert 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 with the backing of the crowd on center court.

“I tried to be brave,” Rune said of his play over the final two games of the match.

“The energy on this court was truly amazing.”

Daniil Medvedev was on court for just 10 minutes before his American opponent Alex Michelsen was forced to retire due to illness after two games.

The Russian fifth seed has lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Indian Wells final the past two years, and the Spaniard is once again on the opposite side of the draw.

Medvedev will next face popular American Tommy Paul, who notched his 50th win at a Masters 1000 tournament with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie.

Tallon Griekspoor toppled 29th-seeded Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Sunday after stunning top seed Alexander Zverev in the previous round.

Griekspoor pounded 10 aces and broke Mpetshi Perricard’s mighty serve twice en route to the win.

Southern California native Marcos Giron came from behind to beat Alexei Popyrin 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 in a match where the struggling Australian converted just one of his 15 break point chances.

It is the 31-year-old Giron’s first time reaching the fourth round of the tournament. — Reuters

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